The death of an Invercargill toddler who was killed when a television and drawers fell on him highlights the need to secure heavy household items, a coroner says.
The three-year-old, whose name cannot be published, died from severe head injuries in hospital hours after a 900cm high chest of drawers and 60kg television fell on him at his family home in July.
The toddler, who was mischievous and loved to climb on things, was trying to turn the television on at the time of the fall which was witnessed by one of his siblings.
His parents woke to a "loud thud" and found the toddler underneath the objects.
In his findings released to media on Wednesday, Coroner Chris Devonport said the toddler's death highlights the need to secure household objects that may topple over and cause injury, especially in homes where young children live.
In another inquest report, Coroner Tim Scott has found that Mark David Nicholls died from severe head injuries after falling from the roof of the Oxford Hotel in Levin in April last year.
After drinking heavily with his partner at the hotel's bar, Mr Nicholls headed to his first floor flat at the hotel.
However, instead of going to the flat he walked onto a dark exterior walkway, onto the narrow roof and fell onto the beer garden below, narrowly missing a patron.
Mr Nicholls likely stumbled onto the roof, Mr Scott says.
He criticised the height of the barrier between the walkway and roof, although, he says, it is unlikely to have contributed to his death.
He also criticised a bartender at the hotel for selling alcohol to Mr Nicholls when he was obviously drunk.
But, he concludes: "He did this to himself. The fundamental reason why he fell is because he was intoxicated."
NZN